Emotional end to Josh Lewsey's Wasps career

Josh Lewsey is not sure when the tears will come. "Maybe at the Wasps
awards dinner on Saturday night or perhaps on my first day's commute into
the office."

Bowing out: Josh Lewsey plays his 262nd, and final, game for Wasps against GloucesterPhoto: GETTY IMAGES

By Mick Cleary, Rugby Union Correspondent

7:03PM BST 24 Apr 2009

Lewsey will bring the curtain down on a glittering club career at Adams Park when Wasps take on Gloucester.

There might have been a few shed when news came through on Tuesday that he had not made the Lions squad to tour South Africa. Lewsey was on the final short list of 50. Close, but no cigar. His omission hurt, even though he has put forward his best diplomatic face.

He knew he was taking a calculated risk when he stepped down from international rugby at the turn of the year. Lewsey was told that he did not feature in Martin Johnson's England plans so he put all his energies into Wasps and planning for the future.

Though he has lined up an ambitious project to conquer Mount Everest next year and a management consultancy job in the City, there was nonetheless a burning desire to sign off with the Lions.

There is little doubt that Wasps' faltering season did not help his cause, albeit the men overseeing that campaign, Ian McGeechan and Shaun Edwards, are also key figures with the Lions. Lewsey ought to have had plenty in the bank. Instead, McGeechan has stayed true to his pledge of going with those in form, notably untried Munster back Keith Earls and novice Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny.

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For the first time in seven seasons, Wasps are out of the running for silverware. Munster and Cardiff, meanwhile, who are in the Heineken Cup semi-finals, provide 14 players to the Lions squad. Did Wasps' troubles hinder Lewsey's prospects while those of the Munster and Blues players were enhanced? "Who knows? It always makes it difficult if you're in a team that's not performing. Wasps have done so in the past. This year, we haven't. You reap the results of that. But look, I was disappointed but I'm determined not to let selection for one team mar what has been so enjoyable for me. My emotions, though, have been all over the shop."

Lewsey, 32, may yet get to the ball in South Africa as a replacement. "I was asked about availability and told I was in with a shout," he said. "So I won't be hitting the beer quite yet."

There will be other rugby matches, of course. He has already signed up for his first stint with the Barbarians. Lewsey is no doubt eager to show Johnson what he might be missing when he runs out on to the familiar territory of Twickenham, this time in the hooped shirts of the Baa-baas to face England on May 30.

It will be a strange finale this afternoon. Wasps have not clocked off this early in a season for many years. Lawrence Dallaglio had the perfect send-off 12 months ago with Wasps defeating old rivals Leicester in the Guinness Premiership final. The serious fight for prizes has yet to begin in earnest. The best Wasps can hope for is seventh place and a wait to see if the shakedown in the European Challenge Cup means that position will be good enough for them to qualify for next season's Heineken Cup.

Wasps' attack has been fractured and under-performing. They gained their first attacking bonus point only last weekend against relegated Bristol, and have a mere 29 tries to their name this season. Only 11th-placed Worcester have scored fewer tries, 28.

Perhaps the bells-and-whistles parade will be saved to the last.

"I'm not into fanfares and this club doesn't do sentimentality," Lewsey said. "Our try-count has been disappointing but there's a full review going on at the club. Things are not broken here, they just need refreshing. I know that I'm ready for the next challenge in my life. I could have played on for three of four more years but I want to experience other things while I can.

"Climbing Everest has been on my mind since the age of 10. In a funny way, despite the problems we've had at Wasps, I've probably enjoyed this last year or so more than most. There has been a chance to get to know guys better. I've really savoured that."

Lewsey plays his 262nd game for Wasps this afternoon. Moist eyes could be forgiven.